Circular 2 way route?

[Marcus]

I have forgotten but could someone please refresh my memory how to create a circular route running in both directions with multiple trains stopping at 4 stops?

I remember when I last played there was a way around this as I try to avoid running multiple trains on a one way track?

Thanks

[Vimpster]

You want two lines, one for each direction. The whole reason for using one way tracks is so you can use multiple trains on the same track. It isn't something to avoid.

[genemead]

Two tracks, two lines stopping at each city (one CW, one CCW), signals spaced out between cities. You can run almost as many trains on each track each way) as you have signals. The signals will keep the trains spaced out and from running into the back of the one in front.

[Marcus]

Thanks for that so if i have 2 one way lines running past 4 stations then i presume I need 2 platforms at each station right?

[canophone]

With two lines that don't share the same tracks between the end stations, you don't. However, if you did have separated tracks that you can direct trains directly from the depot to, you would need separate track platforms at all stations, unless manually operating double-slip switches (PS: I've done that before).

[genemead]

Originally posted by Sunrise:

Thanks for that so if i have 2 one way lines running past 4 stations then i presume I need 2 platforms at each station right?

Right. I use two separate tracks, separate lines, one station with two platforms at each stop. That way they don't bother each other and trains can come and go as they please. In other words, think two loops (lines), one inside the other, one going clockwise, one going counter clockwise.

They don't have to be one way lines. The lines, each on separate tracks (A-B-C-D and A-D-C-B) won't interfere with each other and if you have more than one train per line, the signals will keep the trains going in the same direction separated.

[hektor]

Shouldn't that be A-B-C-D-C-B-A?

That's how mine are, until I finally make a route circiling the whole map, then once I have a complete circuit, I delete all of the back tracking routes, then create a new line in the opposite direction. Two lines covering the entire map, going in opposite directions.

[genemead]

Originally posted by hektor:

Shouldn't that be A-B-C-D-C-B-A?

If you have one train, one line, going to the 4 cities in order, then back. My way was how you end up- "Two lines...... going in opposite directions.", only I started that way.

[hektor]

Originally posted by genemead:

Originally posted by hektor:

Shouldn't that be A-B-C-D-C-B-A?

If you have one train, one line, going to the 4 cities in order, then back. My way was how you end up- "Two lines...... going in opposite directions.", only I started that way.

I don't know that I would ever do this, first off one train and four stations no I wouldn't. Second, if you A-B-C-D aren't you just passing all those stations from D back to A or am I missing your point?

[genemead]

It's circular loop that goes round and round, not a straight line.

I wouldn't either. I get that people love watching long trains run long routes, but I'm a point-to-point man myself.

[hektor]

I do build that way but as a precursor to making the loop longer.And 1-4 loco to station seems low. Dunno the distance but maybe 3-4. Like you said frequency should rule over individual capacity.

[Marcus]

Thanks for that! Btw till which year does a free game run?

[General Tso]

A free game can be played as long as you like. There is no end year.

[General Tso]

Here's an example of a two way loop route that worked. I apologize for the quality. It's an old video from a couple of years ago.

It was recorded in cockpit mode. So you can't see the entire layout but it filled an entire medium map.

https://youtu.be/XJ2zWmF7R5U

Each of the loop route stations have 4 platforms. One clockwise passenger, one counter clockwise passenger, One clockwise freight, and one counter clockwise freight.

As far as making money. It wasn't the most efficient system. But I could still make money faster than I could spend it on medium difficulty.

The system was very efficient when it came to train traffic.

Almost all of the passenger traffic is located in the loop itself. And all of the loop passenger traffic was station to station. (Except for the train you are riding in which travels the whole way around the loop.)

The freight traffic traveled from various locations all over the map to the closest station on the loop using trains usually set up for one type of freight. At the loop station the freight was then transferred to multi cargo freight trains that distributed it around the loop to the cities. Each multi freight train traveled the whole way around the loop.

There where definitely a few problems. Some of the passengers had an annoying habit of travels for long distances around the loop. And the freight trains tended to yo-yo between mostly full and partially full. But over all the system worked well.

I should probably mention that I built the loop with the no cost mod enabled. Then turned it off and played a regular game after that. So I "cheated" in order to build the loop faster. But the loop system did appear to be a valid money maker once built.

[Marcus]

Thanks for that General Tso

[hektor]

Originally posted by Sunrise:

Thanks for that! Btw till which year does a free game run?

Funny you ask I thought about making a post about this to see how far someone has gone. I 'think' I have maps well past 2500, not sure if I ever got past 3000...